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Worthy Move
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JUMEN GAMARU TAMAYO
Creative Writing
A WORTHY MOVE
Introduction
“At some point during their degrees, when motivation levels are low, and the
mountain of cases to read high, law students will question their choice. A law degree will
stretch you to your limits and test your commitment. I know many students who have
dropped out of law degrees unable to cope with the intensity. Don't make the decision over
the choice of degree lightly. A law degree is a very expensive investment. In fact, some may
be better off choosing a degree they enjoy at university in which they can gain better honors
and then decide whether to commit to law and do the GDL (Graduate Diploma in Law).”
Attending law school? Why not? After all, it’s in my goal list. Being a lawyer is not
just for prominence, or a guaranteed passport to a greener life, but also a better chance to
lend help to others. Hence, two things are at stake: study the hardest and hurdle the bar
examination.
I have read articles that replete of this story. Some shared their experiences,
struggles, and their study habits while in law school. Some cursed law school for making
their life miserable. Miserable means giving up their time for social life to go through the
avalanche of required readings. Because in law school I believe, the only relaxing moment
(but not all the time) is when the professor will not be around.
What I am trying to figure out in the preceding paragraph is a life of a typical law
student. What do I mean by this? A typical student is someone whose only task is to study
and no other activities that would divide some of his time. On the other hand, there are
some who would dare enough to juggle study and work. He could be someone or anyone
who has the courage to take up law while working for a living. That someone is me...trying
to shoot a bird and an eagle in a single shot.
HOW DID I GET THE IDEA?
In 1991, my father was murdered. Since then, my family was a random subject of
senseless and appalling behaviour from other people. As a young poor boy, poverty has
always been my companion which often reminds me of those who killed my father. Those
tender years must be attended in by a father. Nonetheless, all I can do that time is to allow
my tears to wash and ease the agonies within me. The grim picture of our family made us
more susceptible and vulnerable to unbecoming circumstances, particularly our mother who
was left to feed seven mouths. The injustice that my mother experienced paved the way to
where I am now...a law student. From that time on, I decided to be the man in the family
who would protect my loved ones from anyone who will try to hurt them.
Before entering law school, I was a typical working guy who spent almost twelve
hours at work. On weekends, I just stayed in my apartment doing lazy things. Sometimes, I
also hang out with my officemates and friends. This was my everyday routine before. Until
one time, I read an article on the result of the 2012 bar examination where an Ateneo
graduate, Ignatius Ingles, topped the examination. I cannot explain why. This re-ignited my
desire of entering law school. So I stopped doing idle things and decided to take up law
degree.
In 2013, after carefully choosing the school that fits my financial and work
conditions, I took up the entrance examination and eventually accepted in the PUP College
of Law. I am one of the pioneering students of the Juris Doctor program.
MANAGING MY TIME
One of the toughest challenges I am facing now is managing time between study and
work. How does my study fit in the schedule?
Before embarking in this program, I laid my plans to my immediate boss who later
helped me arranged my time in the company so I can pursue my studies. As a result, it was
agreed upon that I have to work from 8:00 AM to 5:00 PM instead of 8:00 AM to 6:00 PM.
Fortunately, there is no work on weekends. The one hour difference will give me ample time
to travel from my workplace to law school. But there are unavoidable circumstances where
my boss needs my assistance. Consequently, I sometimes go to school late. In spite of this, I
am very thankful because most of the time I still arrived in class earlier than professors. I
considered this a blessing.
During my first year, I find difficulty adjusting my sleeping time. The regular eight to
nine hours sleeps become four to five hours during weekdays. My night classes end at 9
o’clock. I have an hour to be at my apartment. I also should have eaten my dinner before
ten o’clock, so I can start reading and finishing my school assignments. I often spend four
hours of each night to study. I go to bed at 2 o’clock in the morning and wakeup at seven in
the morning.
In the office, I use my break time to scan my notes, to read or make case digests in
preparation for my evening classes. I am an Audit Supervisor in a group of casual dining
restaurants. My work has already exhausted my time and energy even before entering my
class.
CHALLENGES
I always hear some saying that if you want to ruin your life, enter law school. But for
me, I consider law school as a washing machine. It spins and smothers me, but later on it
will bring out a better me.
In the life I have chosen, I considered my health as the biggest challenge. It is only by
being healthy that makes me fit and sound to finish the journey I enthusiastically started. I
need to have more waking time over the luxury of cuddling my pillows. I also need elements
like coffee to stay awake for all the tremendous and mind-boggling reading assignments.
There is so much to read and learn.
I came a crossed with an article describing a law school, “Law school is intense. In
your law school, you are always competing against your fellow students for the best grades.
Some law schools mark using a bell curve, so that your grades directly depend on how the
rest of the year performs. Some students become extremely defensive and do everything
they can purely for personal gain at the expense of others. This is rare, but law school can be
a bit like being on "The Apprentice" competing against others in a high pressure
environment with backstabbing and drama!”
I would like to add and perhaps some will agree that the competition extends at the
expense of law textbooks. The school fees are affordable, but not the books. I have stopped
spending for my favorite brand of clothes to save money for those bulky books.
The downside sometimes is sacrificing either my study or my work. When there are
deadlines and/or rush projects to be completed, I have no choice. After all, my work sends
me to law school. Sometimes, during examinations I need to file for a leave to spend more
time reviewing in order to hurdle the sickening exams.
Added challenge to my case is the lack of quality time with my loved ones especially
my girlfriend. Due to postponing and rescheduling of important dates, we sometimes have
misunderstanding. But now, she already accepted my situation and very supportive to my
undertaking.
Lastly, they say that everyone will try to pawn free legal advice from you. However, if
I had a hundred peso for every time a friend has asked a legal question, maybe at this point
in time, I have already saved few thousands of pesos. For some reason, people think that
law students are overflowing fountains of legal knowledge to be tested at will. This is simply
not the case. No, I do not know about the legal intricacies of internet libel law. No, I can't
help you get out of your mobile phone contract. No, I can't help you if you've killed a man!
And even if you do give advice, be sure to add disclaimers.
With all these accounts, I must bravely and squarely go through all the challenges.
How? Simply by working hard, smart, and being organized. The workload becomes easier if
you are well organized and focus at work. Planning ahead and prioritizing work over play
avoids dreaded all-nighters. When reading, one should focus on the end goal: learning the
law in order to apply it correctly in an exam. Shortcuts in reading may be made too: having
an idea of a case's facts and legal principle mean that the case report may be read more
quickly with more focus on the key points. This is not something which is taught; rather I
have had to learn this myself in the process.
Rewards
How about the rewards of being a working student? Probably, there are many. To wit:
1. Mommy and Daddy will be really proud for having a son or daughter studying law
while working;
2. Here in the Philippines, Law is a well-respected degree. According to a lawyer and
a friend, once companies have come to know that you are lawyer, these
companies would fall in line for you to consider their offers. Again according to
this friend of mine, some companies will create a position for you just to be hired.
3. Being a working student, your professor may be more humane and lenient with
regards coming late to his or her class. He or she may also refuse to call you
multiple times during recitations. Just be very respectful.
4. You can gain respect in your workplace. Even your boss would solicit some advice
from you regarding legal matters. Just remember not to be absolute.
5. You will be able to understand when your rights are taken away; and,
6. Making constructive argument with people is a great way to make friends and get
laid.
The finish line is yet to be seen and still a long way to go before getting there. On my
way realizing my dream, I sometimes stumble, fear and discouraged. Whenever negativity
creeps in, I take the courage of that young and poor boy who wanted to protect his family.
Finally, when his dream comes true, he will say...TO GOD ALL BE THE GLORY.
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